By Jackie Demaline
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ensemble Theatre revisits Alice in Wonderland for the holidays and it's an even better time than it was in its debut a few seasons back.

What was always wonderful about Alice was the crayon colors, the Lewis Carroll-like skewed sense of fun, the constant motion, the many invitations to join in a chorus of David Kisor's grand array of infectiously tuneful songs.

There was enough that was right to overcome the one thing that was terribly wrong - Alice was unfocused and ultimately not as satisfying as it could have been.

Not any more.

Now this contemporary leap down the rabbit hole is by an angry little girl (Bonnie Emmer) who has a big lesson to learn about what belongs to you and what doesn't and why stealing matters. And why your mom's rules are a lot better than chaos. Credit playwright Joseph McDonough with the sharpening and tightening.

Musically, Alice is a gem, with the kind of songs you could imagine a Schroeder-like prodigy pounding out on a toy piano, playing with a variety of styles, from Stephen Sondheim to blues to country western. Through all of it, Kisor's gift - inventiveness combined with an ear to what will capture and hold a child's attention - is obvious.

The costumes are brilliantly matched to the melodies. Hard to believe that Reba Senske could improve on the glorious wardrobe from the show's premiere, but she has, with prop master Shannon Rae Lutz doing inspired service in completing many stage pictures (and also having a ball as The Mad Hatter.)

Beth Harris' frisky hipster Cheshire Cat steals the show. (just like Harris did in season opener Nite Club Confidential.)

Annie Fitzpatrick's sinuous Caterpillar is a vision in bright blue and purple; Michael Bath goes albino as the worried White Rabbit (but I wish he'd had more to do!) and Deb Girdler is a mean queen from her shocking pink curls to her red, stiletto-heeled high-tops.

Alice's standout players more than make up for a largely uneven ensemble, and the fact that Jared Doren doesn't do justice to the Mock Turtle's two big numbers in the second act.

Alice continues through Dec. 28. If you don't want to be late for this very important date, remember that evening performances start at a family-friendly 7 p.m. 421-3555.

E-mail jdemaline@enquirer.com